Wrist rest for stringed instruments



(No Modl.) v

' J. APPLE.

WRIST REST FOR STRINGBD INSTRUMENTS. I I No. 556,238. Patented Mar. 10', 1896.

AN DREW H.6RAHAM.PNDTO-UTHQWASHINGTON n C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOIIN APPLE, OF TRENTON, NEIV JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR OF ONEJIALF TO JOSEPH M. LEIVIS, OF SAME PLACE.

WRIST-REST FOR- STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,238, dated March 10, 1896.

Application filed November 30,1895. Serial No. 570,719- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN APPLE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVrist-Rests for Stringed Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a stringed musical instrument with a wrist-rest which is attached to the tailpiece so that the part forming the rest will lie above the top of the instrument and out of contact with the strings, the tailpiece being constructed to receive the rest and prevent its rocking thereon, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the acccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view showing the application of my invention to a mandolin. Fig. 2 is a view of the parts detached, and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view.

A designates the tailpiece, which is attached to the musical instrument in the usual manner, and is provided at its upper end with an inwardly-projecting flange and a series of recesses in which the strings lie. A slight distance below the upper end of the tailpiece and on a line with the recesses is a transverse series of studs or posts a to which the ends of the strings are attached, and the stud or post at each end of the series is raised or projects a little higher than the others, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The lower part of the tailpiece is formed with outwardly-projecting lugs a, the upper ends of which are slit to form seats for the lower end of the wrist-rest B hereinafter described. The tailpiece is also provided with a threaded aperture which is located below the studs or posts a and at the center of the tailpiece, this threaded aperture being adapted to receive a thumb-screw c, which holds the wrist-rest in place.

The wrist-rest B is made up of a plate of sheet metal which is stamped or otherwise shaped to present a horizontal portion formin g the rest and a depending portion by which it is attached to the tailpiece. The lower end of the depending portion is notched or slightly cut away at each side, as shown at b, to fit within the slits or seats in the upper ends of the lugs to and between said notches, and a short distance above the same is a vertical slot 1), which overlies the threaded aperture, so that the thumb-screw 0 can engage said aperture and be turned to bring the head thereof in engagement with the depending portion of the wrist-rest. The depending portion of the wrist-rest is also provided with apertures 19 N, which are located to correspond with the location of the studs or posts co at each end of the series and with which they engage to further provide against any rocking movement of the wrist-rest when it is in engagement with the tailpiece, the intermediate studs or posts a bearing against the inner side of the wrist-rest to prevent its coming in contact with the strings.

The horizontal portion of the wrist-rest B is slightly concave and the ends thereof are bulged outward, as shown at b to prevent the wrist of the player slipping off of the rest. In case the horizontal portion of the wrist-rest is made of flexible metal the upper end of the tailpiece A is provided at its sides with upwardly-projecting lugs (1. which will contact with said horizontal portion and prevent the same coming in contact with the strings.

By providing the depending portion of the wrist-rest with the vertical slot 1) the rest can be placed in engagement with the tailpiece without entirely removing the thumb-screw c, as the lower end of the rest can be placed in engagement with the lugs a and moved so that the head of the thumb-screw will pass through the slot, and after the apertures b are in engagement with the studs or posts a the thumb-screw can be turned to hold the parts in positive engagement.

The device herein shown and described presents a very neat addition to a stringed instrument, such as a mandolin, and forms a rest which will support the wrist of the player out of contact with the strings. The parts are so constructed that the wrist-rest can be readily detached from the tailpiece when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stringed instrument, the combination with the tailpiece having slitted lugs at its lower end, a central threaded aperture and a thumb-screw in engagement with said ap erture, of a Wrist-rest provided with horizontal and depending port-ions, the depending portion having notches at its lower end and a vertical slot through which the thumb-screw passes to be turned to hold the wrist-rest in engagement with the tailpiece, substantially as shown and described.

In a stringed instrument, the combination, of a tailpiece carrying a thumb-screw and having studs or posts CL two or more of which are longer than the others; together with a wrist-rest provided with an opening through which the thumb-screw passes and with apertures which engage the longer studs or posts, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In a stringed instrument, the combination, of a tailpiece having slitted lugs at its lower end, a thu1nhserew and a transverse series of studs or posts (6 two or more of which are longer than the others; together with a wrist-rest having a depending portion which engages the slitted lugs of the tailpiece and is provided with an opening through which the thumb-screw passes and with apertures which engage the longer studs or posts a, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a stringed instrument, the combination with the tailpiece having slitted lugs at its lower end, a centrally-located thumb-screw and upwardly-projeeting lugs (1 of a wristrest provided with horizontal and depending portions, the depending portion having notches at its lower end which engage the slitted lugs and a vertical slot which receives the thumb-screw, substantially as shown, whereby the horizontal portion of the wrist- .rest is held out of engagement with the strings by bearing upon the lugs of.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\Vitnesses:

Josnrn M. Lewis, MANFREI) NA A n. 

